“The Shadow Sect, as the shadows of Tianqi City – while people know of their existence, they understand very little about them,” Su Muyu contemplated before continuing slowly. “What I do know is that their strongest expert of this generation is Luo Qingyang. He used to be Emperor Tai’an’s personal guard and was granted a city for saving the emperor’s life multiple times.”

“Muliang City, the Lone Sword Immortal Luo Qingyang,” Su Zhe put down his pipe. “If he makes a move, we might have some trouble.”

“Luo Qingyang has already broken ties with the Shadow Sect. I heard about this from Li Hanyi, though I don’t know the details. I know someone who should understand the Shadow Sect well. Uncle Zhe, I’ll have to trouble you to make a trip,” Su Muyu said.

Su Zhe was taken aback: “I know who you mean. Who is it?”

“The Third City Lord of Snow Moon City, Sikong Changfeng,” Su Muyu said solemnly.

Su Zhe started: “Ah, the fellow who broke through the Guxu Formation with a single spear.”

“He was once the Vermillion Bird Guardian of Tianqi City and had numerous interactions with the Shadow Sect. While my relationship with him isn’t particularly deep, it should be enough for him to share some information about the Shadow Sect with us.” Su Muyu nodded slightly, “I apologize for the trouble, Uncle Zhe.”

“Just arrived in Tianqi City, and now I have to leave again.” Su Zhe sighed softly.

“Uncle Zhe can certainly rest for a night; there’s no need to rush,” Su Muyu’s tone carried a hint of apology. “Uncle Zhe is no longer part of the Dark River anyway. Perhaps I should send a message to have Changhe go instead, although… he might get thrown out.”

“Never mind, never mind. It’s too quiet here; I’ll spend the night in the entertainment district.” Su Zhe smiled, picked up his Buddhist staff, and walked to the window. “Now that you know the truth about Dark River, what are your plans?”

Su Muyu replied without hesitation: “Dark River will no longer be anyone’s shadow.”

“Very good.” Su Zhe flipped out of the window.

At the Imperial Father-in-law’s mansion.

Yi Bu sat in the main hall, playing chess with someone.

The Crow members arrived at this time. Yi Bu slightly raised his head, frowning: “Where’s Su Muyu?”

Crow clutched his injured right hand and said hatefully: “He told us to return tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” Yi Bu picked up a chess piece. “Return?”

“I told you before, today’s Dark River is no longer the Dark River of the past. They haven’t come to submit, but to conquer,” said the chess opponent with a laugh, his voice carrying a cold edge.

Yi Bu stood up, crushing the chess piece to powder between his fingers: “A bunch of young people, do they think they have enough leverage to negotiate with me?”

“Yi Bu, you have to admit, they do indeed have sufficient leverage. If this were the Shadow Sect of a hundred years ago, Dark River would naturally have no choice but to submit. But now, Dark River’s strength exceeds that of the Shadow Sect.” The chess opponent stood up. “All you can do is join forces with them. Put aside your pride, Imperial Father-in-law.”

Yi Bu wanted to rage but finally just sighed deeply and sat back down on the long bench.

“Perhaps you could seek out that favorite disciple of yours, and see if he’s willing to help,” the chess opponent turned around. “As for my conditions, you can think about them some more.”

“No need,” Yi Bu snorted coldly.

“You’ve led a pack of wolves into Tianqi City. You may soon regret this decision,” the chess opponent walked out the door. He wore a black robe with a hood that concealed his face.

Crow couldn’t help but turn to look at him.

The man noticed and glanced back at Crow, who felt as if his entire body had been pierced by needles in that instant.

“Such people, and they think they can stand against the King of Langya?” The man smiled and didn’t look back again.

Yi Bu sat on the long bench, staring at the chess board before him. After a long silence, he sighed softly: “No need to seek him out tomorrow either.”

“Not going?” Crow was startled.

“Has San Guan returned?” Yi Bu asked.

Crow shook his head: “After leaving the Netherworld Pawnshop, they went somewhere.”

“Where?” Yi Bu asked again.

“It’s said that the previous Family Head secretly built a… haven,” Crow said solemnly.

In the southern border of Bei Li.

Outside a nameless mountain village.

As dawn broke.

Su Changhe lay in a field, chewing on a blade of grass, watching the wisps of cooking smoke rising from the village. He smiled, “What a wonderful smell of food.”

Mu Yumo played with a butterfly nearby, shaking her head slightly: “You should have gone to Tianqi City, and let Su Muyu come here instead.”

Su Changhe shrugged: “He said he was afraid of disappointment, so he had me come look first. I think he’s afraid that if he came himself, he wouldn’t be able to leave.”

“Do you think the woman Su Muyu loves lives in there?” Mu Yumo asked.

“Perhaps. He only said there was an old friend, whom the Family Head arranged to live in the haven. This haven houses the people that Dark River members care about most in the mortal world. The Family Head built this village to protect them. Do you have anyone precious to you in the world who isn’t in Dark River?” Su Changhe asked.

Mu Yumo nodded: “Yes, in the Tang Clan.”

“What a fickle fellow you are. I don’t have anyone. If someone suddenly told me my relatives lived in the village, I’d probably draw my blade and kill them all.” Su Changhe grimaced, then stood up as he noticed a woman in plain clothes carrying a basket of wild vegetables standing before him. Though dressed as a village woman, she couldn’t hide her extraordinary beauty, and most incongruously, she wore a long sword at her waist.

The woman watched Su Changhe warily: “Who are you?”

Su Changhe smiled: “I’m Su Changhe. I’ve seen you before.”

The woman shook her head: “But I haven’t seen you. Someone as distinctive as you, I wouldn’t forget if I had.”

“Years ago, when Su Muyu left Dark River to save you, I secretly followed him. Later, when he fell off the cliff trying to save you, I rescued him and brought him back to Dark River. As for you, you must have been brought here by the Family Head,” Su Changhe said calmly.

“I understand now. I’m Xiao Zhaoyan,” the woman in plain clothes relaxed slightly. “Is he… doing well?”

“Muyu Zhaoyan – what fitting names,” Su Changhe glanced at Mu Yumo. “Looks like many women in Dark River will be heartbroken.”

“He’s like an older brother to me,” the woman in plain clothes shook her head gently. “Your sudden arrival – has something happened?”

“Not really. Your Brother Muyu is doing very well.” Su Changhe stretched lazily. “Yumo, protect them well. I’ll be back soon.”

Mu Yumo smiled: “As a Family Head, you still handle everything personally.”

“Yes indeed. Even as Family Head, I still have to do the fighting myself!” Su Changhe sighed deeply. “So much for status!”